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El Baassiri MG, Raouf Z, Badin S, Escobosa A, Sodhi CP, Nasr IW. Dysregulated brain-gut axis in the setting of traumatic brain injury: review of mechanisms and anti-inflammatory pharmacotherapies. J Neuroinflammation 2024; 21:124. [PMID: 38730498 PMCID: PMC11083845 DOI: 10.1186/s12974-024-03118-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/29/2024] [Accepted: 04/30/2024] [Indexed: 05/13/2024] Open
Abstract
Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a chronic and debilitating disease, associated with a high risk of psychiatric and neurodegenerative diseases. Despite significant advancements in improving outcomes, the lack of effective treatments underscore the urgent need for innovative therapeutic strategies. The brain-gut axis has emerged as a crucial bidirectional pathway connecting the brain and the gastrointestinal (GI) system through an intricate network of neuronal, hormonal, and immunological pathways. Four main pathways are primarily implicated in this crosstalk, including the systemic immune system, autonomic and enteric nervous systems, neuroendocrine system, and microbiome. TBI induces profound changes in the gut, initiating an unrestrained vicious cycle that exacerbates brain injury through the brain-gut axis. Alterations in the gut include mucosal damage associated with the malabsorption of nutrients/electrolytes, disintegration of the intestinal barrier, increased infiltration of systemic immune cells, dysmotility, dysbiosis, enteroendocrine cell (EEC) dysfunction and disruption in the enteric nervous system (ENS) and autonomic nervous system (ANS). Collectively, these changes further contribute to brain neuroinflammation and neurodegeneration via the gut-brain axis. In this review article, we elucidate the roles of various anti-inflammatory pharmacotherapies capable of attenuating the dysregulated inflammatory response along the brain-gut axis in TBI. These agents include hormones such as serotonin, ghrelin, and progesterone, ANS regulators such as beta-blockers, lipid-lowering drugs like statins, and intestinal flora modulators such as probiotics and antibiotics. They attenuate neuroinflammation by targeting distinct inflammatory pathways in both the brain and the gut post-TBI. These therapeutic agents exhibit promising potential in mitigating inflammation along the brain-gut axis and enhancing neurocognitive outcomes for TBI patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mahmoud G El Baassiri
- Pediatric Surgery, Department of Surgery, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21287, USA
| | - Zachariah Raouf
- Pediatric Surgery, Department of Surgery, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21287, USA
| | - Sarah Badin
- Pediatric Surgery, Department of Surgery, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21287, USA
| | - Alejandro Escobosa
- Pediatric Surgery, Department of Surgery, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21287, USA
| | - Chhinder P Sodhi
- Pediatric Surgery, Department of Surgery, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21287, USA
| | - Isam W Nasr
- Pediatric Surgery, Department of Surgery, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21287, USA.
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Mutlucan UO, Orhun Ö, Özcan-Ekşi EE, Ekşi MŞ, Uçar T. Health-related quality of life measures in patients undergoing decompressive craniectomy for severe traumatic brain injury: a 6-year follow-up analysis. Int J Neurosci 2024:1-9. [PMID: 38446112 DOI: 10.1080/00207454.2024.2327400] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2022] [Accepted: 03/02/2024] [Indexed: 03/07/2024]
Abstract
PURPOSE We aimed to assess the long-term neurological outcomes and the functionality and QoL in patients undergoing decompressive craniectomy for severe traumatic brain injury, respectively. MATERIALS AND METHODS Among the 120 patients who underwent decompressive craniectomy for severe TBI between 2002 and 2007, 101 were included based on the inclusion criteria. Long-term follow-up results (minimum 3 years) were available for 22 patients. The outcomes were assessed using the Glasgow Outcome Scale (GOS) and the functionality and HRQoL were assessed using the Short Form-36 (SF-36) (v2) and Quality of Life After Brain Injury (QoLIBRI) questionnaires. RESULTS Among the patients with severe TBI, 62 (61.4%) died and 39 (38.6%) were discharged to either home or a physical therapy facility. Eleven of the thirty-nine patients could not be reached and were excluded from the final analysis. The mean GOS of the remaining 28 patients was 4.14 ± 0.8 after 6.46 ± 1.64 years of follow-up. The HRQoL was assessed in 22 of the 28 patients. The HRQoL scores were lower in patients with TBI than in healthy controls. Furthermore, there was a significant difference in the HRQoL scores in patients with improved GOS scores than in those with unimproved GOS scores. CONCLUSIONS Health-related outcome scores could help clinicians understand the requirements of survivors of severe TBI to create a realistic rehabilitation target for them. QoLIBRI served as a good way of communication in these subjects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Umut Ogün Mutlucan
- Department of Neurosurgery, Antalya Education and Research Hospital, Antalya, Turkey
| | - Ömer Orhun
- School of Medicine, Acıbadem Mehmet Ali Aydınlar University, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Emel Ece Özcan-Ekşi
- Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Unit, Acıbadem Bağdat Caddesi Medical Center, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Murat Şakir Ekşi
- Department of Neurosurgery, School of Medicine, Health Sciences University, Istanbul, Turkey
- FSM Training and Research Hospital, Neurosurgery Clinic, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Tanju Uçar
- Department of Neurosurgery, Akdeniz University, School of Medicine, Antalya, Turkey
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Zimphango C, Mada MO, Sawiak SJ, Giorgi-Coll S, Carpenter TA, Hutchinson PJ, Carpenter KLH, Stovell MG. In-vitro gadolinium retro-microdialysis in agarose gel-a human brain phantom study. FRONTIERS IN RADIOLOGY 2024; 4:1085834. [PMID: 38356693 PMCID: PMC10864450 DOI: 10.3389/fradi.2024.1085834] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2022] [Accepted: 01/11/2024] [Indexed: 02/16/2024]
Abstract
Rationale and objectives Cerebral microdialysis is a technique that enables monitoring of the neurochemistry of patients with significant acquired brain injury, such as traumatic brain injury (TBI) and subarachnoid haemorrhage (SAH). Cerebral microdialysis can also be used to characterise the neuro-pharmacokinetics of small-molecule study substrates using retrodialysis/retromicrodialysis. However, challenges remain: (i) lack of a simple, stable, and inexpensive brain tissue model for the study of drug neuropharmacology; and (ii) it is unclear how far small study-molecules administered via retrodialysis diffuse within the human brain. Materials and methods Here, we studied the radial diffusion distance of small-molecule gadolinium-DTPA from microdialysis catheters in a newly developed, simple, stable, inexpensive brain tissue model as a precursor for in-vivo studies. Brain tissue models consisting of 0.65% weight/volume agarose gel in two kinds of buffers were created. The distribution of a paramagnetic contrast agent gadolinium-DTPA (Gd-DTPA) perfusion from microdialysis catheters using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was characterized as a surrogate for other small-molecule study substrates. Results We found the mean radial diffusion distance of Gd-DTPA to be 18.5 mm after 24 h (p < 0.0001). Conclusion Our brain tissue model provides avenues for further tests and research into infusion studies using cerebral microdialysis, and consequently effective focal drug delivery for patients with TBI and other brain disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chisomo Zimphango
- Division of Neurosurgery, Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Marius O. Mada
- Wolfson Brain Imaging Centre, Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
- MRC Cognition and Brain Sciences Unit, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Stephen J. Sawiak
- Wolfson Brain Imaging Centre, Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
- Department of Physiology, Development and Neuroscience, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Susan Giorgi-Coll
- Division of Neurosurgery, Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - T. Adrian Carpenter
- Wolfson Brain Imaging Centre, Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Peter J. Hutchinson
- Division of Neurosurgery, Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
- Wolfson Brain Imaging Centre, Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Keri L. H. Carpenter
- Division of Neurosurgery, Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
- Wolfson Brain Imaging Centre, Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Matthew G. Stovell
- Division of Neurosurgery, Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
- Department of Neurosurgery, The Walton Centre, Liverpool, United Kingdom
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Kunapaisal T, Phuong J, Liu Z, Stansbury LG, Vavilala MS, Lele AV, Tsang HC, Hess JR. Age, admission platelet count, and mortality in severe isolated traumatic brain injury: A retrospective cohort study. Transfusion 2023; 63:1472-1480. [PMID: 37515367 DOI: 10.1111/trf.17476] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2023] [Accepted: 06/12/2023] [Indexed: 07/30/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND We asked whether patients >50 years of age with acute traumatic brain injury (TBI) present with lower platelet counts and whether lower platelet counts are independently associated with mortality. METHODS We combined trauma registry and laboratory data on a retrospective cohort of all patients ≥18 years of age admitted to our Level 1 US regional trauma center 2015-2021 with severe (Head Abbreviated Injury Score [AIS] ≥3), isolated (all other AIS <3) TBI who had a first platelet count within 1 h of arrival. Age and platelet count were assessed continuously and as groups (age 18-50 vs. >50, platelet normals, and at conventional transfusion thresholds). Outcomes such as mean admission platelet counts and in-hospital mortality were assessed categorically and with logistic regression. RESULTS Of 44,056 patients, 1298 (3%, median age: 52 [IQR 33,68], 76.1% male) met all inclusion criteria with no differences between younger and older age groups for (ISS; 18 [14,26] vs. 17 [14,26], p = .22), New ISS (NISS; 29 [19,50] vs. 28 [17,50], p = .36), or AIS-Head (4 [3,5] vs. 4 [3,5]; p = .87). Patients aged >50 had lower admission platelet counts (219,000 ± 93,000 vs. 242,000 ± 76,000/μL; p < .001) and greater in-hospital mortality (24.5% vs. 15.6%, p < .001) than those 18-50. In multivariable regression, firearms injuries (OR9.08), increasing age (OR1.004), NISS (OR1.007), and AIS-Head (OR1.05), and decreasing admission platelet counts (OR0.998) were independently associated with mortality (p < .001-.041). Platelet transfusion in the first 4 h of care was more frequent among older patients (p < .001). CONCLUSIONS Older patients with TBI had lower admission platelet counts, which were independently associated with greater mortality.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thitikan Kunapaisal
- Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, University of Washington (UW) School of Medicine (SOM), Seattle, Washington, USA
- Department of Anesthesiology, Faculty of Medicine, Prince of Songkla University, Songkhla, Thailand
- Harborview Injury Prevention and Research Center, Harborview Medical Center, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Jim Phuong
- Harborview Injury Prevention and Research Center, Harborview Medical Center, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Zhinan Liu
- Harborview Injury Prevention and Research Center, Harborview Medical Center, Seattle, Washington, USA
- Transfusion Service, Harborview Medical Center, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Lynn G Stansbury
- Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, University of Washington (UW) School of Medicine (SOM), Seattle, Washington, USA
- Harborview Injury Prevention and Research Center, Harborview Medical Center, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Monica S Vavilala
- Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, University of Washington (UW) School of Medicine (SOM), Seattle, Washington, USA
- Harborview Injury Prevention and Research Center, Harborview Medical Center, Seattle, Washington, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, UW SOM, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Abhijit V Lele
- Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, University of Washington (UW) School of Medicine (SOM), Seattle, Washington, USA
- Harborview Injury Prevention and Research Center, Harborview Medical Center, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Hamilton C Tsang
- Harborview Injury Prevention and Research Center, Harborview Medical Center, Seattle, Washington, USA
- Transfusion Service, Harborview Medical Center, Seattle, Washington, USA
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, UW SOM, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - John R Hess
- Harborview Injury Prevention and Research Center, Harborview Medical Center, Seattle, Washington, USA
- Transfusion Service, Harborview Medical Center, Seattle, Washington, USA
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, UW SOM, Seattle, Washington, USA
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Temporary or Permanent? A Clinical Challenge in the Evaluation of Traumatic Brain Injury Patients with Unconsciousness and Normal Initial Head CT. World J Surg 2022; 46:2882-2889. [PMID: 36131183 DOI: 10.1007/s00268-022-06747-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 09/10/2022] [Indexed: 01/14/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Traumatic brain injury (TBI) patients with unconsciousness and normal initial head computed tomography (CT) present a clinical dilemma for physicians and neurosurgeons in the emergency department (ED). We recorded how long it took for patients to regain consciousness and evaluated the patients' characteristics. METHODS From 2018 to 2020, TBI patients with unconsciousness and normal initial head CT [Glasgow coma scale (GCS) score < 13, negative CT scan and normal laboratory test results] were evaluated. Patients who regained consciousness were analyzed. Multivariate logistic regression (MLR) analyses were used to evaluate independent factors for regaining consciousness. RESULTS A total of 77 patients were included in this study. Fifty-eight (75.3%) patients regained consciousness, most within one day (43.1%). Nineteen (24.7%) patients never regained consciousness. MLR analysis showed that initial GCS score (odds 1.85, p = 0.017), early airway protection in ED (odds 25.02, p = 0.018) and 72-h GCS score improvement by two points (odds 0.02, p = 0.001) were independent factors for regaining consciousness. Overall, 94.1% of patients who received early airway protection and improved 2 points in 72-h GCS score regained consciousness. The association between days to M5 status and days to M6 status (consciousness) was highly significant. Fewer days to M5 status were highly associated with needing fewer days to regain consciousness. CONCLUSIONS For TBI patients with unconsciousness and normal initial head CT, a higher probability of regaining consciousness was observed in those who underwent early airway protection and who improved 2 points in 72-h GCS score. Regaining consciousness within a short period could be expected in patients with M5 status.
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